Work-holder.



PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

J. I. BHMA'NN. WORK HOLDER. APPLI'UATION FILED AUG. 17, 1907.

3:", g: 6 Z INVENTOR ATT NEY 1n: NORRIS PE JOHN J. EHMANN, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

Wonk-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Application filed August 17, 1907. Serial No. 388,967.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. EHMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Work-Holders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a work holder that is adapted to hold one end of an element to be sewed, andis adapted to be attached to a piece of furniture or to the limb of the operator, the other end of the article to be sewed being grasped by the hand and thus held taut.

The invention consists in a spring metal clamping portion that is preferably adapted to go around the knee of the operator, and also consists of an arm projecting from the clamping portion and being provided, on its end, with a work holder or clasp that has means thereon for clasping and releasing the material to be held, this invention not being limited'to articles being sewed, but is applicable to any case where both hands are to be employed and assistance is required for holding the article on which the operation is taking place.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view illustrating the application of the device to the body of an operator,

showing the spring clasp attached to the knee. Fig. 2 is a side View of the work holder. Fig. 3 is a'top view of the same, and Figs. 4 and 5 are a side view and a top view respectively, of a modified form of clasp.

The invention consists of a clamping .member 10 which is made of spring metal, and preferably in the shape of a band as shown in the drawings, but it can be made of a frame of wire. The lower ortion is turned out at 11 so as to permit its ready attachment, and this clamping member is particularly designed to go on the limb of an operator, directly above the knee, this disposition being obviously the most handy. Attached to the top of this clamping member is a-wire 12 bent into a loop at 13, and back upon itself as at 14, and is provided, on its free end, Wit/ha clasp 15. The clas has a tubular portion 16 fitting on the en of the portion 14 of the Wire 12, and being preferably soldered or brazed thereto. Theclas 15 has a pair of spring arms 17 integral wit the tubular .portion, and provided with the holding jaws 18. Passing through slots 19, in the spring arms 17, is a rivet 20 which is slid back and forth, according to whether the jaws are wanted open or shut.

. A modified form of clasp 15 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, where the spring arms 17 are both enveloped by a loop 21, made of wire, which is then bent into a handle portion 22 and to a second looped enveloping member 23. The handle portion 22 provides a ready means for'grasping the sliding locking element, and the operation of this device is evident from an inspection of the drawing, the

loop being slid back when the work is to be released, and being slid to the forward end of the clasp when the work is to be grasped.

This device is a very convenient arrangement, as it holds the end of the work far enough away so as to allow room for the operation, due to the formation of the wire arm, and both hands can be used on the work, and it is not necessary, when sewing is being done, to continually use a pin to fasten one end of the cloth to the dress of the operator.

Having thus described my invention, what v I claim is 1. An article of the kind described comprising a spring clamping member, an arm secured to the top thereof and bent into a loop portion and extending above the clamping member, a clasp on the end of the arm, and means for opening and closing the clasp.

2. An article of the kind described comprising a clamping member made of spring metal, an arm secured to the top thereof and extending into a loop and then bent back upon itself, and a clasp on the projecting end of the arm, the clasp being thus elevated above the clamping member.

3. An article of the kind described comprising a flat metallic spring clamping memer, a wire arm projecting from the to thereof transversely of the clamping mem er and formed into a loop and then bent back upon itself above the clamping member, a clasp on the elevated end of the arm, the clasp having a tubular portion attached to the arm, a pair of spring jaws secured to the tubular portion, the jaws having slots therein, and

a rivet passing through the perforations and of a pair of spring arms, and means sliding having heads on the outside of the spring on the spring arms to cause them to shut.

arms. In testimony, that I claim the foregoing, 4. An article of the kind described com- I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day 5 prisinga gleilmping membei1 formeddintoda of August 1907. 15

spring are aving outwar y tur-ne en s, t o a Wire arm secured to the tol of the clamp JOHN EHMANN' ing member and forming a orizontally ar- Witnesses: ranged U-shaped support, a clasp on the pro WM. H. CAMFIELD,

10 jecting end of the arm, the clasp consisting R. JOHNSON. 

